Devices, systems, and methods for antimicrobial susceptibility testing

Abstract

Various apparatus, systems, and methods for determining a susceptibility of an infectious agent to an anti-infective are disclosed. In one aspect, a system comprises a well plate, a sensor array lid configured to cover the well plate, and a reader for receiving the well plate covered by the sensor array lid. The well plate comprises wells including test wells comprising an anti-infective and at least one control well devoid of the anti-infective. Each of the wells is configured to receive and contain a sample. The sensor array lid comprises a plurality of sensor units. Each of the sensor units is configured to extend into a well of the well plate. Each of the sensor units comprises an active electrode and a reference electrode used by the reader to detect any changes in the solution characteristics within the wells to determine the susceptibility of the infectious agent to the anti-infective.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sensor array lid, comprising:
 a lid top;   a flexible substrate coupled to an underside of the lid top, wherein the flexible substrate comprises a plurality of substrate strips or segments partially cut out from a remainder of the flexible substrate, wherein at least one substrate strip or segment of the flexible substrate curls or bends vertically downward relative to a surrounding portion of the flexible substrate;   an active electrode disposed on each of the substrate strips or segments curling or bending vertically downward; and   a reference electrode disposed on each of the substrate strips or segments curling or bending vertically downward.   
     
     
         2 . The sensor array lid of  claim 1 , wherein the active electrode comprises a redox-active material. 
     
     
         3 . The sensor array lid of  claim 2 , wherein the redox-active material is a noble metal. 
     
     
         4 . The sensor array lid of  claim 2 , wherein the redox-active material is a metal oxide. 
     
     
         5 . The sensor array lid of  claim 1 , wherein the reference electrode comprises a reference electrode material. 
     
     
         6 . The sensor array lid of  claim 5 , wherein the reference electrode material comprises at least one of silver/silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) and carbon. 
     
     
         7 . The sensor array lid of  claim 6 , wherein the reference electrode material is coated or covered by an ion exchange membrane. 
     
     
         8 . The sensor array lid of  claim 7 , wherein the ion exchange membrane is a sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene-based fluoropolymer-copolymer or a polyaromatic polymer anion exchange membrane. 
     
     
         9 . The sensor array lid of  claim 1 , wherein the lid top comprises posts extending from the underside of the lid top, wherein the posts are configured to push or press against the substrate strips or segments such that the substrate strips or segments maintain their curled or bent configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The sensor array lid of  claim 9  wherein at least one of the substrate strips or segments is pushed or pressed by at least one of the posts such that a portion of the substrate strip or segment is substantially perpendicular to portions of the flexible substrate that are coupled to the lid top. 
     
     
         11 . The sensor array lid of  claim 9 , wherein the posts extend downward from the underside of the lid top, and wherein the posts are angled to allow the posts to push or press against the substrate strips. 
     
     
         12 . The sensor array lid of  claim 11 , wherein the posts are positioned at an oblique angle with respect to the underside of the lid top. 
     
     
         13 . The sensor array lid of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible substrate is made in part of a flexible polymeric material. 
     
     
         14 . The sensor array lid of  claim 13 , wherein the flexible polymeric material is made in part of at least one of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) material. 
     
     
         15 . The sensor array lid of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible substrate is made in part of a conductive metal substrate. 
     
     
         16 . The sensor array lid of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the active electrode and the reference electrode is a screen printed electrode (SPE) such that at least one of a redox-active material of the active electrode and a reference electrode material of the reference electrode is screen printed onto the flexible substrate. 
     
     
         17 . The sensor array lid of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the active electrode and the reference electrode is an electroplated electrode such that at least one of a redox-active material of the active electrode and a reference electrode material of the reference electrode is electroplated onto the flexible substrate. 
     
     
         18 . The sensor array lid of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the active electrode and the reference electrode is a sputter deposited electrode such that at least one of a redox-active material of the active electrode and a reference electrode material of the reference electrode is sputter deposited onto the flexible substrate. 
     
     
         19 . The sensor array lid of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible substrate comprises an electrical contact pad disposed on the flexible substrate, and wherein the electrical contact pad is left exposed by the lid top, wherein the active electrode is electrically connected to the electrical contact pad via conductive traces, and wherein the reference electrode is electrically connected to the electrical contact pad via additional conductive traces. 
     
     
         20 . The sensor array lid of  claim 1 , wherein the reference electrode is a pseudo reference electrode.